NICK Clegg was branded “absurd” last night after he accused those who want to quit the EU of being “backwards-looking”.

Clegg delivering a pointed speech at the Lib Dem conference in York yesterday [REUTERS]

In a swipe at his rivals the Liberal Democrat leader said that the debate over Europe had resulted in an “ungenerous” form of politics sweeping across Britain fuelling “bile and anger”.

The Deputy Prime Minister also claimed that “pulling up the drawbridge” and leaving Europe would wreck Britain’s economy.

Prime Minister David Cameron has set out plans to renegotiate the UK’s links with Brussels and hold an in/out referendum by the end of 2017.

Tory MP Peter Bone called on Mr Clegg to back the referendum.

It doesn’t matter what Nick Clegg says, it’s what the British people say is the most important thing

Peter Bone, Tory MP

“It doesn’t matter what Nick Clegg says, it’s what the British people say is the most important thing. I suspect deep down he knows more people will vote to leave the EU,” Mr Bone said.

He added it was “absurd” to think quitting it would wreck the economic recovery. “Britain would be billions of pounds better off out.”

In Mr Clegg’s address to his party conference in York, he claimed: “The politics of blame has found an acceptable face: it wears a big smile and looks like someone you could have a pint with down the pub.”

It was a clear reference to Ukip leader Nigel Farage whose populist touch has been identified as one of the reasons behind his party’s rise in support – a surge that has seen the LibDems pushed into fourth in the opinion polls.

The pair will face off in two debates ahead of May’s European elections.